Blessed Virgin Mary

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26*

 When Joseph’s brothers realized

That their father was dead they said, “What if Joseph turns against us in hate because of the evil we did him?”  So they sent word to Joseph saying, “Before he died your father told us to say this to you:   Please forgive the crime and the sin of your brothers in doing evil to you. Forgive the crime of the servants of your father’s God.”

When he was given the message, Joseph wept. His brothers went and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.   But Joseph reassured them, “Don’t be afraid! Am I in the place of God?  You intended to do me harm, but God intended to turn it to good in order to bring about what is happening today – the survival of many people.   So have no fear! I will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he touched their hearts and consoled them.  (…..)

 

Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7

Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

Matthew 10:24-33

 A student is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.  A student should be glad to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If the head of the family has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of the family! So, do not be afraid of them.

 There is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.   What I am telling you in the dark, you must speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops.

 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul. Rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.   For only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s consent.   As for you, every hair of your head has been counted.   So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.   Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my Father in heaven.

    

Gospel Reflection：

This gospel looks towards the future of the possible fate of those who follow Jesus. The future is not sugar-coated so as to give them a false sense of security. Rather it is presented stark naked in front of the Believers so that when the time of trials and persecution comes, they would have been warned beforehand.

Did Jesus’s honesty deter his disciples? How many of them decided to leave and continue their safe but otherwise ordinary lives we will never know. But what we know is that a small band of men and women disciples continued in the face of extraordinary odds. They hold fast to the assurance of Jesus that they would be taken care of despite the hatred of the world.

And ultimately they would receive eternal life in heaven. The assurance seems thin and brittle. The disciples must have strong faith to believe. Surprisingly, they did. Some with great difficulty. And so today, the achievements of their faith stands. The church they founded with their faithfulness continues to this very day.